§ 45-61-2 - Legislative findings. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 45-61-2

   § 45-61-2  Legislative findings. – The general assembly hereby recognizes and declares that:

   (1) The general assembly finds that stormwater, when notproperly controlled and treated, causes pollution of the waters of the state,threatens public health, and damages property. Stormwater carries pollutantsand other material from the land – such as human and animal waste, oil,gasoline, grease, fertilizers, nutrients, and sediments – into rivers,streams, ponds, coves, drinking water aquifers, and Narragansett Bay.Stormwater reaches the state's waters by streets, roads, lawns, and othermeans. As a result, public use of the natural resources of state for drinkingwater, swimming, fishing, shellfishing, and other forms of recreation islimited and in some cases prohibited.

   (2) The general assembly further finds that inattention tostormwater management results in erosion of soils and destruction of bothpublic and private property, thereby putting public safety at risk and harmingproperty values and uses, including agriculture and industry. Therefore, tohelp alleviate existing and future degradation of the state's waters and theassociated risks to public health and safety, and to comply with state andfederal stormwater management requirements, stormwater conveyance systems mustbe maintained and improved. The state of Rhode Island is delegated by theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency to implement "Phase II"stormwater management regulations, which require municipalities and otherpersons to increase their capacity to control stormwater. The Department ofEnvironmental Management's Pollution Discharge Elimination System program haspromulgated these regulations.